Welcome Steph!
I'm new here as well and in just a few short days I've realized that (a) the folks on this site know their stuff! (b) they are friendly and approachable without the ornry-ness (is that even a word?) that you might run into elsewhere (c) you can learn tons here by lurking and not posting, but you'll be missing the comraderie.
Now, since you and Wasch veered off into NASCAR territory, I have to ask...why do all racing sports (track & field, horse racing, auto racing, dog races, etc.) run counter-clockwise on the oval? Is there any racing sport that runs "from right to left" as you're watching? I've always wondering this, but never asked...and now that I have, it sounds sort of stupid, but I'll let the question ride. Anyone?